Queen bee macro

Queen bee macro detail: physical traits, life cycle, and vital roles within the hive.

About this subject

The queen bee is the only fertile female in an Apis mellifera colony, responsible for egg-laying and social cohesion through pheromones. Her body is more elongated than that of worker bees, with a prominent abdomen housing developed ovaries. Unlike workers, the queen has a smooth stinger and can sting multiple times, though she rarely does so except in rivalries with other queens.

The queen's life cycle begins in a royal cell, fed exclusively with royal jelly by worker bees. This specialized diet triggers her sexual development. The virgin queen performs mating flights, copulating with multiple drones and storing enough sperm to last a lifetime (2 to 5 years). After mating, she returns to the hive and begins laying, potentially producing up to 2,000 eggs per day at peak.

The queen's importance in beekeeping is central: her genetic quality directly impacts colony productivity, disease resistance, and behavior. Beekeepers often mark queens with colors for identification and monitoring. Natural or forced queen replacement (requeening) is a common practice to rejuvenate hives.

Fun fact: The queen emits a pheromone called 'queen substance' that inhibits worker ovary development and attracts drones during mating flights. Under ideal conditions, a queen may live up to 5 years, but in commercial apiaries she is often replaced every 1 to 2 years to maintain productivity.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to identify a queen bee in a hive?

The queen is generally larger than worker bees, with a longer and pointed abdomen. She moves more slowly and deliberately, often surrounded by a retinue of workers that feed and groom her. Beekeepers usually mark her with a colored dot on the thorax.

What happens if the queen bee dies?

The colony senses the queen's absence within hours. Workers select young larvae to rear new queens, feeding them royal jelly. If no viable larvae exist, the colony may collapse or accept a queen introduced by the beekeeper.

How many drones does a queen mate with during her mating flight?

A queen may mate with 10 to 20 drones in a single flight, flying to drone congregation areas. She stores the sperm in a structure called the spermatheca and uses it throughout her life.